Overcoming the Fear of Man
Analyzing the Fear of man
INPUT – Why is this topic Important?
INPUT – What is the difference between the fear of man and fear of the Lord?
INPUT – What are some of the results of the fear of man?
“The fear of man brings a snare, But he who trusts in the Lord will be exalted.” (Proverbs 29:25)
INPUT - What are some of the results of the fear of the Lord?
“The Lord is exalted, for He dwells on high; He has filled Zion with justice and righteousness. And He will be the stability of your times, A wealth of salvation, wisdom and knowledge; The fear of the Lord is his treasure.” (Isaiah 33:5–6)
“O fear the Lord, you His saints; For to those who fear Him there is no want.” (Psalm 34:9)
“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, And the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.” (Proverbs 9:10)
INPUT - What are some unfruitful/sinful ways to compensate for the fear of man?
Overcoming the fear of man
1 John 4:15–21 — 15 Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God. 16 We have come to know and have believed the love which God has for us. God is love, and the one who abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him. 17 By this, love is perfected with us, so that we may have confidence in the day of judgment; because as He is, so also are we in this world. 18 There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves punishment, and the one who fears is not perfected in love. 19 We love, because He first loved us. 20 If someone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for the one who does not love his brother whom he has seen, cannot love God whom he has not seen. 21 And this commandment we have from Him, that the one who loves God should love his brother also.
Three steps to overcoming the fear of man
- Redirect your focus - Replace the fear of man with the fear of the Lord
“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, And the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.” (Proverbs 9:10)
““Do not fear those who kill the body but are unable to kill the soul; but rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.” (Matthew 10:28)
- Trust / Abide in the Love of God with Gospel confession
“What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who is against us? He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him over for us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things? Who will bring a charge against God’s elect? God is the one who justifies; who is the one who condemns? Christ Jesus is He who died, yes, rather who was raised, who is at the right hand of God, who also intercedes for us. Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?” (Romans 8:31–35)
- Allow the Gospel to govern how you approach relationships
“If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love; just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love. “These things I have spoken to you so that My joy may be in you, and that your joy may be made full. “This is My commandment, that you love one another, just as I have loved you.” (John 15:10–12)
INPUT – How are those steps helpful to you to fear the Lord and lead others to do the same?
